Singer's Sword

by Cassandra Boyson

  So, it was true. Hazel sat back in her chair, raising an intrigued brow. “But though Kierelia was once vulnerable, she has risen again. She is rather robust, in fact. And her alliance with Bashtii is that much stronger, if I do say so myself. How can Rakutan possibly plan to take her?”

  “My dear, whose idea do you think it was to tempt the sorceress, Aradia, into luring the dragons? Much as you have worked to rebuild, you cannot convince us that Kierelia is as strong as it was before. Even so, you saved us a great deal of trouble in the long-run by re-establishing its economy so rapidly.”

  Hazel released a breathless, shuddering laugh to which they smiled and nodded with satisfaction. They thought her impressed. What she was… was in shock. Her parents, who had claimed they’d wished to remove King Zephuel from the throne because of his relationship with a sorceress, had brought on the dragon attacks. She supposed things had changed once they’d been banished. Ethics had shifted. She swallowed and swallowed again, stealing a few moments to regain her composure. “Then… why did you not make your move when we were in ruin?”

  “Why, we thought we’d have time. We didn’t believe Kierelia could be restored after such a calamity. And we hadn’t counted on that man, Latos, arriving to slay the beasts. We were scarcely able to salvage a few for our own use before he’d vanquished most of them. And then, when the rumors of Kierelia’s rebuild reached us, we simply were not yet prepared for our assault. You see, we were well aware of the strength of Kierelia’s alliance with Bashtii and our dragons were not yet trained.”

  Hazel choked. “You have trained dragons?”

  “The few we captured, yes—four of the smaller variety. It was a pity we were unable to get our hands on the giant beasty the Kierelian boy-king slew.”

  “Even so,” began her father, “the ones in possession are trained well-trained. They attack by mere whistles in specific intonations.”

  “Oh.” Hazel murmured with interest. “Like with music.”

  “Precisely.”

  Her mother observed her a moment before moving to sit beside her. She gazed into her daughter’s eyes with, “My dear, Kierelia shall by ours two days hence. That is why we came to you now. You must prepare. We will fetch you some days following in order to present you to the new court… and the unconquerable King Rakutan. He has already agreed to our terms. If we aided him, our daughter would be queen. But when he sees you, I am certain he will wish of his own volition to see you enthroned beside him.”

  Hazel gazed back at her mother, whose eyes yet held hers. How she wished she saw love in those eyes, some kind of actual consideration for her wellbeing. But any dream that they may have had valid reason for leaving her behind had been destroyed when she’d discovered they’d lured dragons into the region… and neglected to see her to safety. Indeed, she was quite certain her part in their schemes had been an afterthought. It was likely they’d only thought to bargain for her crown once they’d heard the stories of her as Lady Fortune, beloved of the people. Of course they wanted her. With her, they might just accomplish what Armond had speculated. They’d win the loyalty of the Kierelian people.

  It was time she provided a few confessions of her own. “Thanks to you, I have grown my whole life under the anguish of rejection from nearly all I encountered. But all that made me stronger, shrewd and resilient. It prepared me for all that was to come. You think some king can banish me and I'll just help you destroy all I built? Armond hasn't harmed me any more than you have. And with or without his—or anyone’s—good opinion, I'm going to be all right... Because I like myself and so does the Great Entity. And that is enough.” She spoke out the revelation as it dawned upon her and then she watched them.

  Her parents exchanged a look between them. Her mother placed a tight grasp on her shoulder, as if holding her there would gain what she sought. “My girl,” she said, “we could not carry you into territory that we’d heard so many terrible things about. Not to mention, we knew how clever you were. You were a bright baby. We discerned you’d take care of yourself and work matters to your advantage. It is in your blood after all. Now, you have gained much prominence—a status you would not possess had you come with us. We simply desired what was best for you.”

  The woman spoke so briskly, it left no room for Hazel to entertain notions that any of it rang true. At most, they’d left her there in hopes she’d grow into someone they could one day make use of, just as King Zephuel had feared. A child was but a pawn to them.

  “I thank you for your… consideration.” She worked her shoulder from her mother’s grasp. “But I am not interested.”

  Her father cleared his throat. “We’d rather hoped we’d birthed a daughter of greater metal. You were such a spitfire as an infant. It is… disappointing to see you’ve grown so subdued.”

  “Well,” she began, “I've heard all that before and lived through it. I will be fine without you.” She was amazed by her own composure, how deeply accurate the claim was and the fact she was essentially dismissing them not only from the room but from her life.

  They gazed back at her, utterly mystified by her genuine reserve. It was clear they could not begin to fathom this child of theirs. And for the first time in her life, she was grateful they'd discarded her.

  “Hazel…” her mother began, “you simply cannot be serious. You will be queen of nearly the entire region.”

  “I was going to be queen before you came along and ruined it. And when I lost the chance, well, I couldn’t care much less than I do now. I’ve no desire for the position. I shall be perfectly content without.”

  In disbelief, her father flew to his feet. “You will come with us. Like it or not, you are our daughter. You are required to fulfill the bargain.”

  With a polite smile, she stood to her own feet. “Mother, Father… depart from my chambers or I shall scream. I assure you, King Fredrick will respond accordingly.”

  Her mother stammered for words she could not find. She looked to her husband, who glared down at Hazel in quiet fury. It was clear he wanted nothing less than to throw her over his shoulder and bolt.

  Decisively, Hazel screamed.

  It was almost comical the way they spluttered and dashed from the room. Hazel fell into her seat again, gaping at the wall as her mind replayed the previous scene. Oh, how she’d missed them all those years, hoped they loved her, hoped they’d had good reason…

  For a moment, she felt orphaned afresh and it was as if the walls would cave in. But then… she recalled the blood of the Entity’s son that had been poured over her head within that eternal throne room. There had been something in the action that was more intimate than the embrace of a parent, more infinite than the care of any mortal soul. She could almost see herself in that place when she closed her eyes and it was there she desired to be above all else.

  But she was startled from her reverie by Fredrick’s sudden presence. He planted himself beside her, drawing her hands into his. “Are you all right?” he asked. “I’ve sent the guards after them. They won’t make it out of Bashtii.”

  Hazel directed her attention to a face full of the most bewildering concern. “I am all right,” she said dazedly.

  He searched her face. “What did they say to you?”

  “Not much more than I already knew.”

  He searched her again, then huffed and offered a small half-smile. “Are you ever going to let me in?”

  Her brows flew up as he pinned her with eyes so wishful, so uncharacteristically vulnerable. Why should he so care to know her? No one had ever worked so hard for it, save Dorian. And most of his friendship had been a ruse to use her as a mole. Yet, here was someone who, as far as she knew, had no ulterior motive. He merely asked that she express how she felt.

  “I… believe I’m in shock,” she conceded slowly. It was some moments before she felt able to sort through her feelings. “I am so very disappointed. But I cannot say I am wholly surprised. They deserted me after all. And for no good reason. Just… callousn
ess and hoping I could prove useful one day.” Biting her lip, she realized she had gripped his hands so tightly that her nails had left red impressions in his skin. She rubbed at them with her thumbs as she continued, “But I mean it when I say I am all right. I’ve been through much worse.” Surprised to feel a tear drop to her chin, she gazed up at him with a quivering smile.

  His eyes were glistening with moisture as if he felt the pain she wasn’t allowing herself to acknowledge… And he cared. A lot.

  “What has gotten into you?” she asked in astonishment.

  He blinked, suddenly self-aware. It was clear he surprised even himself. “Knowing your history, I knew what their sudden arrival here could mean, that they could hurt you. My first instinct was to banish them from the kingdom before seeing you. But then I thought you might be disappointed at missing the chance...” She could see his mind searching for answers, as if he scarcely understood himself.

  His gaze dropped to their interlaced hands. Hers followed.

  Inwardly, she cringed as she realized what they were doing, what was happening. Not but weeks prior she’d been engaged to another man—one she’d thought herself in love with. If Armond’s betrayal hadn’t been enough to squelch her affection for him, her own realization that she had not been anywhere near in love with him had. Now, here she was holding hands with a man who looked at her like she was the most precious thing in the world. She couldn’t be doing this. It was foolhardy. Surely, she’d learned her lesson.

  But those eyes, that held more empathy than Armond had ever felt, jolted to her face. He wrenched his hands away, eyes wide.

  Of course. She’d been holding his bare hands… the hands that could have turned her to gold. It was fortunate his gift did not always initiate. Swiftly, he yanked his gloves from his pocket and pulled them on. Then, he sat back a little further from her with an almost amused expression. She was fairly certain he apprehended that her walls had flown up… And he found it funny? No, mildly entertaining… which was a whole other factor far more confusing than the rest.

  No, it was him good-naturedly giving in to the fact that she was… complicated. She didn’t like that notion. She hadn’t even realized she did not easily let people in until he’d mentioned it on her last visit. It was clear it had been bothering him for some time and was something he’d been working to overcome.

  “Why don’t you tell me what was said,” he suggested as if helping her get past herself.

  But this only made her temper flare. She felt condescended to. Swallowing back a sudden desire to take out her tempest of emotions on him, she reminded herself that this was the only person sitting before her and caring. She stole a breath and considered where to begin. “Oh,” she gasped as sudden realization hit her. “They’re… they’re going to attack Castlehaven in two days.”

  “Your parents?”

  She nodded. “They’re allied with the Deep South. They just told me they plan to attack two days hence. I hadn’t even realized what they’d just given me. I know all about their plans. They assumed I’d go along with them—even offered me in marriage to Rakutan in exchange for their aid.” Pleadingly, she looked to Fredrick. “I have to do something. I have to go back to Kierelia and warn them.”

  “We have to do something,” he corrected. “I’ll ready the troops.”

  “The troops?”

  “Yes, as defense for Kierelia.”

  “Oh, yes, of course. I forgot about the alliance.”

  “I’m not doing it for the alliance.”

  She flicked him a glance. He was letting her know he’d decided how he felt while daring her to acknowledge what he’d said.

  Conceding to herself that something new was blooming in her heart, she sought the yellow route. “We’d better get going.”

  * * *

  Hazel was astonished by how swiftly Fredrick gathered his men. Furthermore, he spared little for his own kingdom. They would bring almost the whole of the army with them. The sheer number of them upon horses over the expanse of the Bashtiian field made her proud to call Fredrick her friend, to call Bashtii a Kierelian ally.

  Soon, they were off, with Hazel a few paces behind Fredrick. She was glad for some time to think. They were riding into a country that, by law, must kill her on sight. Fredrick had promised her his fullest protection, but it only did so much to ease her. Still, it mattered little. She had built Kierelia up and she would not sit back and watch it be torn down again.

  It had been considered that she, Fredrick and a smaller legion might travel across the sea, which would provide for a swifter warning. But Fredrick thought Hazel ought not to appear without the whole of an army to defend her. It was then deliberated that he go by ship himself, but he insisted he could not feel her safe without his own eyes on her. Then, of course, it was contemplated whether a message might be dispatched ahead of them. But again, Fredrick disagreed. As had been made clear, his first concern was for Hazel’s safety and he did not wish to give Armond time to make plans against her should he be so irrational. Therefore, Kierelia would lose a day’s warning.

  Some hours later, Fredrick drew back to ride along beside her. “I have taken every precaution, but I cannot imagine Armond would really wish you killed.”

  “Nor can I.”

  “Do you… think he may have changed his mind about everything in your absence?”

  “He’d have written if he had. Unless he was uncertain of where I was…”

  “He knows. Word of your arrival in Bashtii has spread.”

  She smirked to herself. “He thought I’d be going to my parents.”

  “Whatever the case, he would be a fool not to hear you out when you arrive.”

  “Indeed,” she murmured.

  “But?”

  “Well, I hate to say it…”

  “He is something of a fool, isn’t he?”

  Unhappily, she nodded.

  “Too bad you couldn’t have wedded him after all, for Kierelia’s sake.”

  With a frown, she glanced up to find him smirking as he gazed into the distance.

  “Oh, yes…” she replied with a scarcely concealed grin. “It is a pity.”

  Swiftly, he turned to glimpse her face before relaxing into his saddle again.

  30

  Hazel couldn’t believe her eyes as she sat surveying Castlehaven from the hill. It was surrounded by the whole of Kierelia’s army—a pitiful sight, truth be told. They scarcely surrounded the castle in three rings. But seeing the militia standing in readiness made her question whether they needed her caution after all. Else, why should they be so prepared?

  She and Fredrick’s men rode swiftly across the field, but he bid them halt when Kierelia’s ranks raised their weapons. He motioned for Hazel to join him at the forefront. “I think they must think we are an enemy. Perhaps we should not draw much closer all at once.”

  Hazel considered. She knew this meant he would ride on without her, but she had no way of knowing how ludicrous Armond’s response would be and who knew better how to handle him than she did? She nudged her horse onward.

  “Hazel!” Fredrick shouted, kicking his horse after her. “I was not planning for you to be among the number that approaches.”

  “I am aware,” she said with a smirk.

  He shook his head unhappily and called back for a small escort to join them.

  When they reached the ranks of Kierelian soldiers, Armond shouted from a high tower, “So, you recruited the golden king into your schemes, Lady Hazel!”

  Her stomach twisted as she realized what he was thinking, but she set her shoulders. “No, your majesty. This is the Bashtiian military come to offer you warning and aid due to an impending attack from the Deep South.”

  “We are aware of that threat, as you well know!”

  “Are you aware they arrive on the morrow?”

  His eyes grew wide. “How can I believe you are not part of their plot?”

  “You might address the royal alliance between our two kingd
oms!” Fredrick hollered. “However, if you continue to persist in this questioning, we will happily be on our way home.”

  Hazel twitched beside him. She knew he was bluffing… or hoped. But Armond had become so stubborn, there was every chance he would not allow them entrance. Must they, then, shout the remainder of their caution in this fashion?

  “Very well,” Armond called. “King Fredrick, you and a small number of your guard may enter for a brief conference.”

  Fredrick shook his head. “The warning you receive is from the Lady Hazel herself. I insist she be permitted entrance and that she be treated as a party of my personal council, rather than an offender of your kingdom. I must have your word she will not only pass unharmed but be regarded with the honor deserving of a Bashtiian emissary.”

  Armond shifted his weight from foot to foot, glaring down at Hazel and Fredrick as he considered. “You have my word.”

  Hazel did not feel comforted.

  It was strange to walk those halls, with the eyes of Kierelian servants and guardsman upon her. Certainly, all had heard of her supposed transgressions, for that was how one upheld a banishment. To her disappointment, it was clear most believed what they’d heard as they glared after her, whispering under their breaths to one another. It did not cease to amaze her how swiftly one went from national hero to scum. It pained her beyond conscious admittance. These were her people. She treasured them.

  A servant spat at her feet. Fredrick motioned for his guards to seize the man, but Hazel gripped his arm and pleaded with her eyes. He motioned again and the imprudent servant was released.

  What precisely had been proclaimed about her? Had Armond actually gone so far as to reveal her gift of song…? Certainly not. Not even he—

  “Southern singer scum,” another servant muttered under her breath.

  Hazel’s eyes widened. She’d known the woman personally, if not very well. The servant’s eyes widened back and she cast them meekly to the floor. Perhaps seeing Hazel in person, as a person, had reminded the woman of her true identity. Or perhaps she feared Hazel would sing her into the rafters. Hazel kept her gaze lowered for the remainder of the passage.